For years I've been saying that my music collection was my art. And while that statement might be a bit high-handed, the fact of the matter is that my collection does say a lot about who I am. So in a way, this blog is going to be my form of self-expression. My hope is that along the way I turn a few people onto some cool new sounds. Enjoy the ride and please feel free to leave comments.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

I know it's been awhile and I can't blame anyone who's given up on me and stopped checking in. Truth be told, there was no one reason I haven't been posting. Ennui, procrastination, other things on my mind and whatever else all had something to do with it but each time I'd think about doing another post, I'd just end up doing something else. Not much is happening on the job front. My severance ran out as of around March 7 but luckily I have some money saved up and I will continue to get medical insurance thru Cobra. Over the last few weeks I have noticed a few more Cobol jobs being posted but they have yet to turn into any actual interviews and I am seriously thinking about possible alternative careers. But enough about all that, let's get to what you came here for, mainly the music.

The Diplomats - Don't Bug Me

I'd never heard this record before until I got it on a Minit Records comp a few months ago but, being the fan of upbeat 60s soul that I am, this has been getting a lot of Ipod play lately. If anyone knows of an original for sale or trade, please get in touch.

The Argyles - White Lightnin'

Back in 1966 these young Texans recorded this stompin' version of the old George Jones favorite. By the sound of things, they might have had more than a little of that White Lightnin' in the recording studio at the time.Bo Diddley - Bo Meets The Monster

I'm willing to bet that this was recorded mainly to cash in on the horror movie craze of the late-50s/early-60s but underneath all the gimmicks, this is pure Bo. Bobby Sherman - Hey Little Girl

Before he was a chart-topping big star in the late 60s, Bobby was a regular on Shindig and I'm guessing that this was recorded around 1965 to try and take advantage of that exposure. It didn't do much for his career at the time but it's a really nice pop record nonetheless.

The Brogues - I Ain't No Miracle Worker

I never heard "...Miracle Worker" back in the day, but with it's "It-Ain't-Me-Babe" vibe, this is pure proto-typical mid-60s folk rock at its best.

The Del-Mars - Snacky Poo

I don't know if there ever actually was a dance called the Snacky Poo but it really doesn't matter. Total care-free, mindless fun is what's in store here. The Lazy Cowgirls - Another Lost Cause

Through the years The Lazy Cowgirls have always been one of my favorite bands. Here they take a song which could be a serious downer in lesser hands and turn it into a celebration. The Monkees - Take a Giant Step

This was originally the flipside of "Last Train to Clarksville" but I actually always liked this song better. I love that little fill someone (I'm sure it's not Mickey Dolenz, the alleged drummer of the group) does on the bass drum about 1:40 into the song.Mickey Dolenz - Don't Do It

Speaking of Mickey Dolenz, this was something he recorded in his pre-Monkee days. While it's nothing you haven't heard before it's still a nice garagey rocker. Tim Tiny - I've Gotta Find Someone

I've got to admit that until I got the "$15,000 Worth of Rockabilly" comp from which this comes I'd never heard of Mr. Tiny before. Which is actually kind of a shame because he has a better than average voice and with the right production and promotion he could've been "somebody".

The Stones - The Last Time

This is from their live show in Honolulu in July of 1966 which is about 1 month after I saw them at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in NYC. Except that the show I was at had to be stopped after 3 or 4 songs as the fans (girls and guys alike) kept rushing the stage.Ruby Johnson - No No No

Although she may never have made a big name for herself, Ruby Johnson is well known and loved by soul fans around the world. And what's not to love? Gritty, passionate southern-style soul at it's best.

Senseless Things - Passions Out Of Town

Back in the early-mid 90s I honestly thought that these guys, along with the Mega City 4, had a chance of taking the Rock and roll world by storm. Intense, intelligent, tuneful 1977-style punk without that self-conscious, anti-social outrage that sometimes made the original punks a bit hard to take seriously. It never happened the way I thought but a lot of damn fine music was left in their wake.

Squire - Walking Down King's Road

Getting back to that Monkees connection one more time, if Dolenz, Nesmith & Co. had been British Mods in the early 80s, they might have sounded like this. And that is by no means a bad thing.

The Unrelated Segments - Where You Gonna Go?

After "Where You Gonna Go" appeared on the "Journey to Tyme" LP comp back in 1982 it quickly became a favorite of garage-heads everywhere. And 25-plus years later it's still gets the adrenaline pumping just a little bit faster every time it gets played.

Sonny Rollins - St Thomas

One of the best concerts I have ever seen in my life was a free show that Sonny Rollins gave at the park at Lincoln Center one summer night in 1998. The place was packed and even though at no time was I ever closer than a few hundred feet from the stage, it remains one of the most intense musical experiences I have ever had.

About Me

Although I am posting 'free' music on here, my intention is to present some of my favorite records and artists in a context that may be somewhat different than the norm, hopefully displaying a different aspect to their music than what may otherwise be instantly recognizable. I think of this blog the same way I thought of the mixed tapes that I used to make. My desire is to promote the music and not to encourage 'stealing' it. However, if you wish me to remove any of your music from my posts, please leave a comment and I will do so.